title: Colorectal cancer educational intervention targeting latino patients attending a community health center.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer death for Latino men and women; and Latinos are more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage, which is most likely due to underutilization of CRC preventive screening. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a brief, clinic-based intervention by a community health advisor (CHA) would increase CRC knowledge compared with traditional educational methodologies (eg, use of print materials).
  
  
  METHODS
  Latino adults 50 years and older attending a San Diego community health center were recruited while waiting for their primary care provider routine visit and were randomly assigned to receive 1 of 3 CRC educational interventions: community health advisor (CHA) plus CRC educational brochure (CHA intervention group), CRC educational brochure (minimal intervention group), or 5-a-day nutrition brochure (usual care). CRC knowledge was assessed before and after the primary care provider visit for 130 participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results demonstrate that the CRC educational brochure (minimal intervention group) was effective at increasing CRC screening knowledge as compared to usual care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Future research is needed to explore innovative health education strategies that improve knowledge and subsequent CRC screening behaviors among low-income, low-literacy, unacculturated Latinos.
authors.affiliation: San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Sheila F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Castañeda
authors.forename: Yer
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Linda C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yepes-Rios
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Ana C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Talavera
authors.forename: Paulina M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Mendoza
authors.forename: Gregory A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Talavera
keywords: Latino; cancer prevention knowledge; colorectal cancer education; randomized clinical trial